She made me a mocking courtesy. “I am
infinitely obliged to you, monsieur, for your
good will,” she said; “but I do not need
your aid. I am with friends now, M.—­M.
Paul!”

I withdrew a little way and leaned my hand against
the table for support, breathing heavily. Behind
me I heard the click, click of the roulette-ball as
it pursued its course around the wheel. The old
dotard had already forgotten me, and was playing with
his right hand against his left again.

“Do you not want to see me, Jacqueline?”
I asked, watching her through a whirling fog.

“No, monsieur,” she answered chillingly.
“No, monsieur!”

“Do you wish me to go?”

She said nothing, and I walked unsteadily toward the
door. She followed me slowly. I went out
of the room and pulled the door to behind me.
I knew that after it had closed I should never see
Jacqueline again.

She opened it and stood confronting me; and then burst
into a flood of impassioned speech.

“Why have you followed me here to persecute
me?” she cried. “Are you under the
illusion that I am helpless? Do you think the
friends who rescued me from you have forgotten that
you exist? You took advantage of my helplessness.
I do not want to see you. I hate you!”

“You told me that you loved me, and I believed
you, Jacqueline,” I answered miserably, watching
the colour flame to her lovely face. And I could
see she remembered that.

“When I was ill you used me for your own base
schemes,” she went on with cutting emphasis.
“And you—­you followed me here.
Do you think that I am unprotected, and that you
are dealing only with an old man and a helpless woman?
Why, I have friends who would come in and kill you
if I but raised my voice!”

“What have you come for?” she asked.
“Have you not had money enough? Do you
want more?”

I seized her by the wrists. Thus I held her
at arm’s length, and my fingers tightened until
I saw the flesh grow white beneath them. The
intensity of my rage beat hers down and made it a puny
thing.

“Jacqueline! You take me for an adventurer?”
I cried. “Is that what they told
you? Why do you think I brought you so near your
home when you were, as you said, helpless? Only
a few nights ago you said you loved me; that you would
never send me away until I wished to go. What
is it that has happened to change you so, Jacqueline?”